The World's Theme Park Capital Turns 150 in 2025

While a visit to Orlando is always magical, 2025 is going to nudge the fun factor up a notch or two. The big occasion? The world’s theme park capital is turning 150 this year and plans to mark the occasion with a major celebration in July as well as several smaller yet no less interesting events.

Formally established in 1875 when it was home to just 85 people, no one at the time could have envisaged just how big and economically important this once small Florda community would become. Now home to about 307,000 residents, according to the 2020 US Census, Orlando welcomed over 75 million visitors in 2024, most of them here for the same reason: fun in the sun.

From a mosquito-plagued backwater to one of the world's most-visited tourist destinations, 2025 is shaping up to be a fantastic time to visit Orlando, especially if you’ve never experienced this dynamic city beyond the theme parks.

From Outpost to Orlando

Those who dig a little deeper into Orlando's backstory are often surprised to learn of the city’s contested beginnings. Long before its founding, this part of Florida was the scene of hostilities during the Second Seminole War, with things coming to a head in 1838 after the U.S. Army established Fort Gatlin in what was then Mosquito County. A somewhat crude fortress with 15-foot pine fencing and two-story blockhouses, this strategic point along the military trail connecting Fort Mellon at Lake Monroe to Fort Brooke in Tampa did come under attack by the Seminole tribe before eventually being decommissioned.

As for its name, that remains one of Orlando's most enduring mysteries. A number of theories exist, with the most likely being a form of tribute to Orlando Reeves, a soldier supposedly killed by the Seminoles, or a reference to a character in Shakespeare's "As You Like It." Take your pick!

From here, the transformation from frontier town to tourist destination took place gradually, with Orlando first becoming a prosperous citrus center. Orange groves were everywhere, dominating the landscape until devastating freezes in the 1890s forced economic diversification.

Orlando’s on the Map

While the community did have one or two roadside attractions (the still-going-strong Gatorland started in 1949), things didn’t really kick into high gear until November 1965. It was then that Walt Disney announced plans to build his Florida Project on 27,400 acres of former swampland southwest of Orlando, land which he’d quietly been acquiring for a few years prior.

Walt Disney World opened its gates on October 1, 1971, with the Magic Kingdom as its centerpiece. SeaWorld followed in 1973, and Universal Studios Florida joined the attractions’ landscape in 1990, cementing Orlando's position as the world's top theme park destination.

The addition of EPCOT in 1982, Disney-MGM Studios (now Hollywood Studios) in 1989, and Universal's Islands of Adventure in 1999 created an entertainment complex that’s still evolving, with the addition of the brand-new Epic Universe taking place as recently as May 2025.

Orlando's Big Birthday

The highlight of Orlando’s year-long celebration takes place on July 31 with citywide “community service” events planned to encourage participation by both locals and visitors. These citywide happenings include volunteer projects at city parks, schools, and community centers throughout Orlando, ranging from neighborhood beautification efforts to historical preservation activities.

The occasion is also being celebrated with free admission to some of the best city attractions. Harry P. Leu Gardens, a lovely botanical gardens where you’ll also find historic Leu House Museum (built in 1888), opens its gates free of charge for the anniversary. It’s also home to Florida's largest rose garden, a butterfly garden, and a tropical stream garden. Stay for the evening and enjoy a performance by the members of the Orlando Philharmonic.

The Mennello Museum of American Art is also waiving admission fees. Highlights include seeing its permanent collection by painter Earl Cunningham, as well as rotating exhibitions of contemporary American folk art. Located on the shores of Lake Formosa in Loch Haven Park, it’s a beautiful setting in which to spend a few hours

The Changing Face of Orlando

Orlando City Hall is also getting in on the act and is hosting an innovative public art exhibition to mark the occasion. Titled “The Changing Face of Orlando: A Sesquicentennial Celebration,” it aims to emphasis the dramatic changes that have occurred across the city through carefully curated photo comparisons by pairing photos of the same location captured decades apart.

This unique outdoor exhibit is open 24 hours a day, with special lighting designed to enhance viewing during evening hours. Interactive QR codes at each display provide additional historical context, as well as personal stories from residents.

Orlando Collected

Another must-see exhibit marking the city’s sesquicentennial celebration is “Orlando Collected: 150 Objects, 150 Years.” Housed in the restored 1927 courthouse that serves as the Orange County Regional History Center’s home in downtown Orlando, this fascinating multiple-gallery exhibit features specially selected object’s that each tell people’s stories about Orlando's past.

The collection includes first settler Aaron Jernigan's surveying equipment, used to map out early Orange County; a menu from the original Ronnie's Restaurant, a landmark eatery that served the community for over 50 years; and even costumes worn by performers at the grand opening of Walt Disney World. This must-see exhibit runs now through January 11, 2026, and can be enhanced by joining curator talks, hands-on activities for kids, and workshops on preserving family histories.

Historic Sites Join the Celebration

While Fort Gatlin no longer stands, the site at the intersection of Gatlin Avenue and Summerlin Avenue is well marked. The Orange County Historical Commission will be putting on guided tours of this and other significant sites, including the location of the legendary Council Oak where Seminole leaders once met.

The Wells'Built Museum of African American History and Culture in Orlando’s Parramore district represents another important chapter in Orlando's story. Opened as the Wells'Built Hotel in 1929, it served African American travelers during the segregation era when most hotels refused them accommodation. Notable guests included legendary performers Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and Ray Charles when they performed at the nearby South Street Casino.

Now functioning as a museum, the restored building features exhibitions on Central Florida's African American community, the Civil Rights movement in Orlando, and the cultural contributions of Parramore residents.

If you’re looking for an excuse to visit Florida this year, Orlando's 150th anniversary celebrations offer a unique opportunity to go beyond the usual tourist hotspots and discover a slice of authentic history. And it’s a fascinating story, one that laid the foundation for what was to become one of the world’s most visited travel destinations, one that gets even more exciting with every passing year.